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Thefts
of pit bulls recently on the rise
March 20,
2008
Author Ken Foster, founder of the Sula Foundation, a local pit bull
advocacy group, is helping to spread the word about the recent surge
of pit bulls being stolen from pet owners, particularly in the
Mid-City area. It's hard to fathom the gall of someone going into a
private yard and stealing a pet, but it's a reality.
Pit bulls are scarred by the reputation of being dangerous dogs, but
more often than not they make headlines after getting into the hands
of people who use them as street-fighting weapons -- people who want
to present a tough image. Animal-control officers often find that
pit bulls are stolen for breeding, as fighting bait or to be goaded
into fighting. These dogs are abused in order to bring out the worst
in them.
As Foster points out, the misconception of pit bulls being bad dogs
pervades most reports about them in the media, but the reality is
different from the image.
"As in most large cities, the majority of New Orleans pit bulls are
friendly, family pets, but we rarely see those dogs in the news,"
Foster said. "Unfortunately, these dogs are easy targets for people
looking to make money by breeding or fighting stolen dogs. When they
discover the dog can't be bred and won't fight, they abandon them
back onto the streets, or worse."
In the case of Suzie, a pit bull stolen from her yard a few weeks
ago, the ending was a happy one. A postman witnessed the theft, and
Suzie was found days later running in the streets, obviously
abandoned by abductors who discovered that she was a friendly pet
and not the fighter they'd hoped she would be. A good Samaritan
found her and posted her on Craig's List. She was reunited with her
owner, who is overjoyed to have her back safe and sound. The happy
owners went out the next morning and had Suzie microchipped, another
happy ending to the tale.
Whether your pet is a pit bull or a poodle, no dog should be left
alone in the yard without supervision, certainly not all day. A
fence is not a deterrent to thieves.
There's also the risk that your dog may be a digger or jumper and
can find a way out of any barrier. Often, a dog that constantly
escapes the yard by digging or jumping is telling its owner that
it's bored. The pet is seeking attention and craving socialization.
Spending time in the backyard with your canine companion is a great
way to connect in a setting that they love. Having you nearby makes
their time sniffing out smells, playing with their toys, or showing
you their latest sprint all the more pleasurable.
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Gloria Dauphin
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